The NU Bulldogs bite back with no expectations, helping them overcome stacked Fighting Maroons for the biggest upset of UAAP Season 87.
The NU Bulldogs approached the tall task of going up against the stacked UP Fighting Maroons with no expectations, which was exactly what helped them pull the upset of the season on Sunday, November 3.
Despite being on opposite ends of the standings heading into their second round clash, NU jumped the gun on UP — hitting their shots at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.
Riding a hot start against a misfiring UP team, which ended up with a season-low in points and field goal percentage, the Bulldogs were able to do the improbable.
[RELATED: NU shocks misfiring UP to keep slim UAAP Final Four hopes alive]
But before the game, it was actually a mindset of not putting any pressure on themselves that helped NU release their true potential.
"Yun lang, sinabi nga ni coach Jeff [Napa] samin enjoyin na lang. Tanggalin yung pressure na- kung ano man sa papasok ng Final Four,” said Player of the Game Pat Yu.
“Laking pasalamat lang ako kay coach Jeff kasi isipin mo buong season sobrang struggling ako kaya kahit ganun nga struggling ako, may tiwala parin sya sakin," he added.
Before their big win over Final Four-bound UP, the Bulldogs were on a three-game losing streak — and we’re dead last in the standings with their 2-8 slate.
Understanding that there wasn’t anything they could do anymore about their previous struggles, it was all about moving forward for NU.
"Sa totoo lang, na-chambahan lang namin sila,” NU veteran Jake Figueroa quipped.
“Ayun nga, sabi ni coach Jeff na mag-enjoy lang kami and alam naman natin yung UP is a strong team, better team.”
Unlike any other team in the UAAP, though, NU was able to sustain its first half lead against the Fighting Maroons. With last season’s runners-up usually struggling during the start of the game, they usually pick up steam after the halftime break.
But against the Bulldogs, UP was unable to stage a comeback. The key to that difference, Figueroa said, was how Napa was able to prepare them for the title contenders.
After a hard-fought week in practice, they were able to reap the benefits of their efforts.
“Sakin lang, yung one week na preparation namin with coach sobrang strict. Ayun nga luckily nakuha namin yung panalo na to and from training,” he said.
“[Tiis] mo lang, pagkakamali talagang sisigawan ka ni coach. Mindset namin talaga is- approach namin bilang veteran kami dalawa (ni Patrick) i-approach ng maayos yung mga rookies namin and yun nagawa naman nila ng maayos."
With their fate in the Final Four out of their hands, the Bulldogs now approach the final stretch of elimination games with a nothing to lose mindset and just like they did with UP, they’re looking to pull off a few more surprises.
The rejuvenated Bulldogs return to action on Wednesday, November 6, when they face the UST Growling Tigers at the Mall of Asia Arena.